In the early planning stages of the CBI game, I decided to build a type-96 LMG, a weapon I quite like anyway, that would fit in well with the game.
I had trouble getting hold of the parts for a long time though, and i've only recently been able to begin, after purchasing an M14 EBR off of arnies.
The basic plan is to cut-and-shut the M14 hop, and attach an AK magazine well above the ejection port of the M14. Once it's all working, the lower receiver will be built out aluminium box section, and aesthetic details attended too.
The gun won't be spot-on as a replica, but it should be fairly close. I've invested in some better tools as well (most notably an engineering vice), so hopefully quality should be reasonably high once finished.
This is progress so far:
The ak magwell has been roughly cut to fit, final fitting and attachment awaiting the return of the gearbox (it was faulty when received). The hop has been cut, and the lower feed tube filled with epoxy. I'll be attaching the upper feed tube when that sets.
-Matt
From that pic I can visualise it taking shape nicely. I was looking at Jap small arms only today in my Janes guns book.
Cheers mate, lets hop so 
A bit more progress in the past week, not visually impressive but important:
Magazine well attached (But not fully epoxied in) and hop unit modified. It now feeds into the chamber from the magazine, which turned out to be a lot harder than expected. Essentially, I had to cut and file a section of spare brass barrel down to size and attach it with epoxy to the top of the M14 hop. I can't test it fully yet, as i'm still awaiting replacement parts for the gearbox. The aluminium underneath is the box section I will be using to fabricate the receiver.
A freind of mine is very kindly donating a Pillar drill at the weekend, which will make life a lot easier. I'm also planning to get an x-y table to mount on it, to make minor milling operations possible.
-Matt
That looks amazing! I hope you can show us pics of the modified hop...Good luck on your progress!
Nice work as usual, so you will have to use a low cap with the mag that way up.
Free speech is expensive these days!
just use 100 round ak midcaps, no winding and a lot more fun to change mags in a contact
"Take that you rotton helping of strawberry flan!"
Joseph Porta to "strawberrys and cream", in the sven hassel book ,ogpu prison
That's the intention - another is to convert some 5.45 AK-74 steel mags (Romanian I believe) for the "Type-99" look.
Progress so far - receiver roughly fitted. Ideally, I need to take about 10mm off of the current level, and perhaps 20mm forwards. It hasn't gone too badly so far, there are some rough tool marks on the inside but the outside still looks quite clean. Dropping that 10mm could be tricky though - it'll have to be done by hand, and if the line isn't straight it'll be a nightmare to sort out.
I've been given a pillar drill by a friend, which has made life easier. I was able to make the slot for the trigger with it be "swiss cheesing" the metal then filing/sawing it out.
Once the receiver is sorted, and assuming it's all working ok, most of the work is done; it's just aesthetics from there on in. The furniture may be an issue, I haven't found a decent way of attaching it yet (Just bolting it on isn't an option - the motor is in the way). The other is battery space - the current idea is to have it where the M14 magazine well would be, in the forward lower receiver.
Thanks for the kind support so far,
-Matt
Rough work on the receiver complete:
I need to neaten up and add detail, but the "heavy" engineering is pretty much done now; it's mainly a case of bolting bits on, and getting the furniture made. It'll take time, but it should all be do-able.
-Matt
Getting there.
Free speech is expensive these days!
Cheers; it's been a while, so time for a quick update:
The upper receiver. Work is nearly complete, I just need to iron out some imperfections in the surface. It's been painted black to highlight said imperfections, it'll be refinished later. The upper receiver was constructed using the M14 upper receiver as a base. Major flat areas were fabricated from thick plasticard, and aluminium in places, with gaps filled in with milliput and sanded smooth (a process not quite complete).
The dust cover is sheet steel, made from an old biscuit tin. The edges have been folded to make them smooth and straight. The rivets were brass pins, inserted into pre drilled holes then squashed flush with a pair of pliers. Moving details like the sights will be added last.
The gun still isn't working, as zero-one still haven't shipped the replacement trigger contact to me, so i'm afraid I still can't state whether it works or not.
Matt
I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of this when its finished mate.
Seems like your flying through it for a pioneer project 
Might be a bit early to ask, but have you any thoughts on how to do the iconic wooden carry handle? Can you still find originals?
AGM MP40 - AGM STG44 - CYMA Thompson M1A1 - WE P08 4 inch - Marushin M1 Carbine GBB - AGM Sten MkII
Cheers; flying through seems to be it at the moment. Let's hope I don't crash 
More recognisable progress today, I had a break from the upper so I did some work on the lower receiver; detailed and nearly finished. Moving parts such as the charging handle will be added later:
It's the first time it's all been together like that, and generally, i'm pleased - there is one thing that's annoying me though, and that's the depth of the lower receiver. Ideally, i'd like to take it down another 5-10mm, as it looks too large in comparison to the upper and the magazine at the moment.
As i'm getting towards finishing now, there are a few bits that I need to get hold of. If anyone has:
Copper plumbing pipe, about 250mm
A long coil spring, inside diameter around 14-15mm. No shorter than 270mm uncompressed or stretched.
A galil or metal ak-74 magazine
I'm needing all three, could they please get in touch.
-Matt
I can see what you mean about the depth of the lower receiver in comparison to the the real thing but its hardly noticeable and to be honest for an airsoft gun its negligable. Just compared your pic to a pic in Janes Guns book and yours is bloody good for such an obscure airsoft gun.
Sorry for the lack of updates; progress has been made, but none of it visually exciting. I went to see my friend with the milling machine, and he's dropped the receiver level by 10mm, which has made a huge difference to the appearence of the gun. That's all together now, leaving the fine detailing, trigger guard and furniture to do. As i'm leaving for uni on the 25th, i've left the gun with him, and he's going to attend to some of the smaller details, and make up the trigger guard; the project hasn't been abandoned, but it'll be months before any further updates.
-Matt
Will it have the lug to fit a bayonet for a real BANZAI feel? 
Children are our future, unless we act NOW!
Don't know yet - not much point TBH; it's a lot of work to make one properly, and you can't really use them in a skirmish/battle; if I get a decent rubber bayonet I might consider it though.
-Matt
if you want a fake spring you could make one ,you can make one out of copper brake pipe ,this is about 6-7 mm outside die and is verry easily bent to shape by coiling around anything of the right die then paint it .the pipe can be baught from any motorfactor verry cheeply.looking good its really comeing together keep up the good work.
armoury
m1a1 Thompson,sten mk2,mp40,stg44,sterling,mk2 bren gun,lee Enfield no4 mk1,Mauser Kar98, Walther ppk,smith and Weston m10 and Mauser m712
Give me a big enough hammer and a place to stand and I could fix the world.
i'll kill a man in a fair fight or if i think he's going to start a fair fight or over a woman or.......
a problem shared is a problem halved ,but an advantage shared is no advantage at all
if a job's not worth doing then its certainly not worth doing well
Hi!
Any news about Nambu Project?
Regards
Hi!Any news about Nambu Project?
As the last post on this subject was nearly 3 years ago, I'd guess that the answer is "no".
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
